It's often too easy to waste time obsessing over the drama and minutia of things that don't really have anything to do with what we really want to accomplish. Years can fly by without using our time, our life and our gifts in the most meaningful way possible.

So one of my annual New Year's traditions is to sit down and actually write out affirmations for the future. A New Year's affirmation is more than just a "resolution" - it's an opportunity to stretch my creativity and confront areas of resistance in my life, with the knowledge that everything starts with energy and an idea.

I use this time to challenge myself - to take a look at whether the choices I am making truly sync with my values, and to reflect on my passion for making a positive difference in this world.

If you are interested in writing affirmations, here is how you do it:

1. Before you write your affirmations, ask yourself what you want your life to look like in 10, 20 years when you will be looking back at the choices you made, the life you lived. This question will help you focus on creating the legacy that is important to you.

2. Write a description of all aspects of your life as you would optimally want them to be and in the present - (examples: I hired a coach to help me more effectively handle challenging situations and look at my career options; my work is fulfilling and positively impacting many people; I am making healthy choices for my mind, my body, my spirit);

3. Read your affirmations every night before you go to sleep and every morning you wake up, so they become part of your new consciousness.

4. Keep a journal to track your progress - write down what is working and what is not, so you can look at what you want and what you are doing to make small and big adjustments.

5. Think big - think about what you can be, not what you are; what you can do, not what you are doing!